National Republican., 1887-11-25


,itizens the words, ~ am citizen OF Gods
To-day Americas most danger
Dus enemy is that goddess inndelity which
has crossed the seas and found home In
BUR midst, calling itself "iree thought" or
'religious liberty"
Our great country is our heritage, with
Ill that God has enriched us with. II Is an
heritage OF privilege and opportunity, the
yrandest and most sacred trust ever COM
mitted to men.
We are living, we are dwelling
In agrand and awful time.
In an age on ages telling;
To be living IL sublime.
THANKFUL ron benefits RECEIVED.
Rev. l.. Stern, Of the Eighth Street
Synagogue, yesterday delivered an able
sermon TO his people, selecting his text from
the Tooth Psalm. He said that to be thank
ful for benefits received is feeling natural
to good heart, and thus IL becomes for all
a moral duty, and as such an essential
requirement for our happiness. A grateful
OF the blessings bestowed upon
us brightens our days and lightens our sor-
rows, while iDgratitude is not only an act
OF injustice, but also source OF annoyance
and unpleasantness, not only to Others but
to ourselves. Notwithstanding our troubles
and grievances, however numerous and per-
picking they may appear, II We are OF
grateful disposition we will surely find
much to be thankful for, much that may
tend to render our hearts happy and our
homes cheerful, Many are the blessings
which, In the face OF our trials and afilic-
tions, we not seldom foollshly ignore-our
health, our good name, pure conscience,
the affection OF our loved ones, the smiles
Of our children, the comforts OF home, the
nature and Of art To the grumbler, the
pessimist, single dark cloud will
obscure the entire horizon; all
those blessings are nothing TO him
II one fay orite scheme proves failure, II
one single hope is blasted. His losses and
troubles, real or imaginary, are ever fore
most in his mind, causing him to look upon
life as blank, and stllling within his
heart every generous impulse or emotion.
Not so the grateful man. Amidst the trials
Of life the blessings OF heaven are by him
not overlooked. Like so many stars on
the armament OF his life they shed halo
Of contentment and hope upon his path,
imparting silver lining to even the dark
est cloud. The grateful throbbings OF his
heart do not permit 1t to imbibe bitter and
morose feelings, unkind and ungenerous
sentiments, but rather impel him TO take a
decidedly cheerful view OF life and the sur
rounding circumstances. He "enters the
gates Of God with thanksgiving, and his
courts with praise, to be thankful unto
Him and praise His name."
And so, my friends, on this day OF ma.
tional thanksgiving the blessings which we
enjoy collectively as a nation and great
people will be appreciated or underrated
according to our optimistic or pessimlstic
views. Surely no one In this broad land
endowed with sound reasoning and observ-
ing powers will gainsay that there exist
great and Just causes for the people Of this
country to be thankful. But there are
those who, guided by the principle that
"the country owes them living" accept
its blessings without deeming IL worth
while to make any return-not even by
feelings Of patriotism and grateful acknowl-
edgement. Others, again, will ever speak
or think of our national Vices and short
comings, Of the unhealthy outgrowths Of
the tree Of our republic, losing sight Of the
abundance OF noble fruit which, through
heavens mercy, It constantly is yielding.
For the honor OF our people and the glory
ofour country let 1t be said that, II all acts
OF kindness and charity, all deeds OF good
ness ard godliness, were recorded as faith
fully and minutely as crime, vice, and cor
ruption, the latter would, proportionally,
dwindle into mere nothingnessl 1t would
be foolish and vain to unduly exult In self
praise and selfgratulation; but 1t were
thoughtless and dangerous to greatly mag
Nifty supposed or real dangers and imper-
fectionsl Let us understand that to-day,
as ever, virtue, purity and honesty, justice
and Righteousness, religion and patriotism
constitute the standard by which all good
men and citizens are measured, and SO
shield our youths against the fatally erro-
neous impression that violence and corrup-
tion, dishonesty and trickery, were means
that inJthe end would lead to success. You
con place host of honest and faithful men
and women, I'm public and private service,
against every individual disgraced
or witness could be brlbed; some
government officials proved faithless:
some guardians of public interests may
have betrayed their trust But this Is no
reason to doubt the honesty aud integrity
Of millions whom naught could move from
their path Of duty A number OF wre ched
individuals may have been misled toseek re.
dress for real or imaginary grievances In a
violent and impossible reorganization Of our
present state OF society, but the American
workingman, In ninety-nine cases out OF q
hundred, will never and under no circum'
stances, forgetful OF his Unlimited chances
for success and the grand possibilities open
to him by honest labor under free and
liberal self government, be found willing
tool for the overthrow and destruction oi
that government The specter Of lawless
ness and anarchy has found It's way into
foreign extraction have paid with theil
lives the penalty Of their lawless iutrlguel
and criminal acts. But 1t would be wors,
crime, yea, sheer madness, to associate witt
them the names OF the millions upon mil
lions Of our citizens OF foreign birth VIII,
must be counted among the best and mos
law-abiding Of our land, forming power
full factor In the development Of our ma
tional strength and prosperity. Recen
hava a w N
discriminating against the influx of foreigl
population, and the necessity OF keepinl
from our shores certain elements whicl
would prove constant menace and DANCE
In our midst as they did abroad. But ther,
certainly is no reason and no justiilcatio,
for the cry so often, SO emphatically ant
sweepingly, raised in our days: "Amerlc
year the centennial anniversary of ou
glorious constitution. In 1t lies ou
strength; in the upholding OF its underlying
principles our safety from danger, and ou
guarantee for future prosperity AS to ou
own ancestors, proudly upholding thei
law-the law Of God-thi ough thousand
OF years, this law was the means Of thei
wonderful preservation to this day, despit
all threatening dangers, so our American
constitution, based, as 1t is, on the sam
fundamental principles freedom OF thought
love. and tolerance, the fatherhood OF God
and the brotherhood of men, will ever prov
a beacon light to this great nation, point
ing out clearly and Enthusiastically the wa
that will bridge us safely over all difllcul
tics and dangers, and lead us, with heaven
help, on the.road Of concord and peace unit
grand and happy future.
Thus, my friends, we are here to day t.
offer up our sacrifice of thanksgiving, no
only for the abundance OF material bless
ings which all kind Providence has showeret
upon us during the past year; not only To-
| His mercy In keeping aloof from us pesti
lence and great national calamitles, but
above all, for the great and happy boon o
being citizens OF country ruled not b.
| princes or potentates, by anarchy or vio
ience, but by the will OF people imbuet
with undying love and reverence tor con
stitutlop, the sacred legacy OF the fathers
| the wisdom OF which the history OF 10
years has amply demonstrated. May, then
| the Lord be with us as he was With ou
fathers. May He guide aud protect us Il
a..N. tx,N -